Get; Getting
Two Fundamental Meanings
Modern readers may not realize that the simple English word "get" stands in for a remarkable number of original Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible. These fall into two main categories. The first involves movement — going, departing, ascending, or descending. The second involves acquisition — obtaining, gaining, purchasing, or finding. This dual meaning is natural in English ("get going" versus "get wealth"), but in the original languages, distinct and specific words are used in each case.
Recognizing which sense of "get" is operating in a given passage often clarifies its meaning. A command to "get up" or "get out" carries different weight than an instruction to "get wisdom" or "get understanding."
Getting as Movement: Divine Commands
Some of the most pivotal moments in Scripture are framed with the language of "getting" in the sense of movement. God's foundational call to Abraham begins: "Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). The Hebrew verb here means to go, to walk, to journey — the command is for radical departure, leaving everything familiar behind.
Similarly, God tells Abraham to "get to the land of Moriah" to offer Isaac (Genesis 22:2). Moses and Aaron are told to "get down" from the mountain when Israel sins with the golden calf. Pharaoh commands Moses and Aaron to "get out" after the final plague (Exodus 11:8). In the New Testament, Jesus tells Satan to "get behind me" (Matthew 16:23) — a command of banishment and repositioning.
These commands of movement are not casual. They carry the weight of divine authority and often mark turning points in the biblical narrative. When God says "go," the trajectory of salvation history shifts.
Getting as Acquisition: Wisdom and Wealth
The second major sense of "get" — acquisition — appears extensively in the wisdom literature. Proverbs makes the pursuit of wisdom an urgent priority: "Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them" (Proverbs 4:5). "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7). The Hebrew word here means to acquire or purchase, treating wisdom as the most valuable possession one can obtain.
But Scripture also warns about the dangers of acquisition. "The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death" (Proverbs 21:6). The prophet Habakkuk condemns the one who "gets evil gain for his house" (Habakkuk 2:9). Deuteronomy warns against the pride of self-made wealth: "You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth" (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).
The contrast is clear: getting wisdom is commanded and celebrated, while getting wealth through unjust means is condemned. The difference lies not in acquisition itself but in what is acquired and how.
The Patriarchs and Getting Wealth
The patriarchal narratives use "get" frequently in the context of acquiring livestock, servants, and possessions. Abraham "got" all the possessions he had acquired in Haran before departing for Canaan (Genesis 12:5). Jacob "got" his livestock and property before leaving Laban (Genesis 31:18). These acquisitions were understood as signs of God's blessing, though the narratives also show how the pursuit of wealth could create conflict between family members.
Eve's naming of Cain reflects the concept of acquisition at its most basic: "I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord" (Genesis 4:1). The Hebrew verb here is the same root that underlies many uses of "get" in the sense of obtaining or producing. Even the birth of a child is framed as something received from God rather than produced by human effort alone.
Getting in the New Testament
In the New Testament, the word "get" appears less frequently but carries similar dual meanings. Jesus sends out the twelve with instructions to "get no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts" (Matthew 10:9) — they are to travel without acquiring provisions, trusting God for their needs. The disciples are told to "get" food for the crowds in the wilderness, a practical challenge that leads to miraculous provision.
Jesus' command "Get behind me, Satan" (Matthew 4:10; 16:23) uses the movement sense with powerful theological force, banishing temptation and reasserting the divine priority of the cross over human comfort.
The Biblical Vision of True Getting
Across both testaments, the Bible presents a vision in which the most important things to "get" are not material: wisdom, understanding, prudence, and knowledge of God. The things most worth pursuing cannot be manufactured by human effort but must be received from God. Moses' prayer captures this: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). The ultimate "getting" is receiving what God freely offers.
Biblical Context
The words 'get' and 'getting' translate numerous Hebrew and Greek terms throughout the Bible. Key passages include God's call to Abraham (Genesis 12:1), the pursuit of wisdom (Proverbs 4:5, 7), warnings against unjust gain (Proverbs 21:6; Habakkuk 2:9; Deuteronomy 8:17-18), and Jesus' commands of departure and provision (Matthew 4:10; 10:9; 16:23). The concept spans the Pentateuch, wisdom literature, prophets, and Gospels.
Theological Significance
The biblical treatment of getting reveals that God is the ultimate source of all genuine acquisition — whether wisdom, wealth, or even children. The contrast between getting wisdom (commanded) and getting unjust wealth (condemned) teaches that not all acquisition is equal. The movement sense of 'get' often marks moments of divine calling, where obedience requires leaving the familiar for the unknown. Both senses converge in the biblical vision that the most valuable things in life are received from God rather than seized by human effort.
Historical Background
The word 'get' in older English (including the King James Version era) had a broader range of meaning than in modern usage, encompassing not only acquisition but also movement, departure, and begetting. Many translation choices that seem unusual to modern readers reflect this broader Elizabethan usage. Modern translations often replace 'get' with more specific verbs like 'go,' 'buy,' 'obtain,' or 'gain,' which can clarify meaning but may also obscure connections between passages that the original translators intended to preserve.